Slowly Learning That Life is Okay: Healing Vignettes

When she opened her eyes, all she could see was the blurry pink of a delicately soft blanket that had worked its way over her head. She moved her fingers slightly, realized one hand was reaching over the very edge of the mattress, that she was nearly falling of the bed. She remembered she wasn't alone, and didn't bother removing her fuzzy pink veil.

Maiko, wrapped tightly in a comforter patterned with big yellow roses, sensed Chikako wake up. She turned her head to say good morning, but her friend remained still, a pink blanket covering her face and a bright, patterned sheet wrapped around her waist. She had slept in red wool socks that didn't match her pastel pajamas. As children, they'd slept next to each other at countless sleepovers, almost every summer night and most weekends. It still felt familiar, but not so comfortable. Maiko sat up and reached over to turn on the lamp.

Under the blanket, Chikako closed her eyes.

The short arms wrapped much too tightly around his neck did not permit Kalei to leave his uncomfortable kneeling position. So he remained, with nothing to do but return Aiko's embrace, suffering a face full of soft blonde hair. It was not unpleasant.

Chikako heard a familiar voice say "I am leaving today... going back to Alderaan." She saw a sparkling green jewel on her left hand, which rested idly on her left thigh as she sat silently at the end of her bed. She felt the rough-smooth fabric of the blue silk dress she was wearing, its skirt bordered with fine yellow silk thread in a boxy, tribal pattern. She could smell Maiko's fruity perfume as she returned her belongings to her travel bag.

Kalei picked up the small box of Xanthus's personal belongings, taken from his room by a fellow padawan who had known him for some time. The prince slid it under his bed. It was the only thing there, since Chikako had taken the last box he'd kept under there. The air in his little apartment had grown stale while he was gone.

"Here, Mai-Mai," Aiko said brightly, offering a warm, crumbly breakfast treat that smelled like brown sugar. Chakra had brought it to her from the kitchen where her mother was making more of them. Maiko noticed that Magena - a fellow dancer - was eating one, and accepted the pastry. It was soft and sweet in her mouth.

Chikako met Kalei next to a loud waterfall. He waved his hello instead of trying to make his voice heard over the rush. She put a worn blue sweatshirt into his hands, smiling sheepishly. He walked behind her and carefully placed it around her shoulders, resisting the urge to touch the tiny silver betrothal rings glimmering at her collarbone on a doubled over chain necklace.

Hisako ran a silver hairbrush through Aiko's long, blonde tresses as they watched Aisu and Chakra play a video game with bold, simple graphics. Her hair was tangled at the ends, but mostly straight except for a great kink left by perpetual ponytails. Hisako smoothed it into a shawl of golden silk. "I think you need your bangs trimmed," she murmured.

Maiko and Annika sat on a nearby sofa. Maiko drank water. Annika toyed nervously with a stuffed rabbit Chikako had given her. It had been Rory's; Maiko didn't know that. Annika didn't know if giving it to her would cause pain or help ease it.

Chikako came in with Kalei and stood behind the sofa. She slipped her hands through Maiko's long black hair, gently twisting it into an elegant up-do. When she let go, it spiraled down over the back of the sofa, unwinding into straight, glossy locks. She left it for a moment, then continued softly playing with it. On transports to berryad games outside of Hyllyard City, Maiko had always begged her to play with her hair. Chikako marveled at how potently it always retained the sweet scent of her shampoo.

Aiko pulled on her bangs; Hisako had cut them really short. "Bye-bye, Mai-Mai," she said, making her bend down for a kiss on the cheek. Kalei kissed her other cheek during a short embrace.

Maiko didn't say good-bye to anyone for fear that the lump in her throat would provoke tears if she tried to speak. Chikako's was the last face she saw; they'd held each other in a gaze too awkward for either to look away.

She hugged her travel bag and folded herself up in her seat on the ship to Alderaan. Space travel sometimes made her queasy. She had a stuffed rabbit in one hand; Annika had thrust it into her arms as she left, with no explanation. It was small and flimsy, soft but not fuzzy. One ear flopped.

Chikako made her bed right before she got in it, discarding her sheet so the fuzzy pink blanket could be soft right against her skin. She swallowed her last, cold drop of tea before lying down. It was very strong; she'd never removed the teabag and it had been sitting forgotten on her nightstand for a while. She pulled her rose-covered bedspread up to her chin and squeezed her blue eyes closed. She smelled soft, fruity perfume.